Hatbox



G. R. ROOS Jan. 8, 1952 HATBOX Filed Dec. 30. 1947 in A l l0 INVENTOR. GEORGE R. R003 FIG. 4

Patented Jan. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HATBOX George R. Roos, Chicago, Ill. Application December 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,591 (Cl. 206- 8) 3 Claims.

My invention relates to hat boxes of substantially cylindrical form, and one object of the present invention is to provide a hat box of this type which has means to create a wide opening, whereby to permit the removal or insertion of the box contents with facility.

A further object is to construct the novel hat box with a cover which operates on a rotary principle such cover being protected against distorting strains.

An additional object is to design the hat box in a manner to be safe against the entrance of water in case it is set down on a wet pavement or surface.

An important object is to contruct the hat box from a light material, such as aluminum or sheet plastic, so that it may be of a minimum weight.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is afront elevation of the hat box in the standing position;

Fig. 2 is a side view;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the hat box in the position of use, showing it open;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the showing in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view, showing the construction of a carrying handle; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to the drawing, I represents the bottom of the hat box, the same being circular for the most part. The circular portion of the bottom has an upstanding rim flange portion I I, while the remaining or fiat edge of the bottom is bent up with a flat flange portion Ila completing the round one.

The box is formed with a flat upstanding wall I2 next inside the flange portion II, such wall being secured to the box bottom Ill. The wall I2 is extended at one side with a short, slightly curved section I3, and from the other side with a wall I4 which is also secured to the bottom I0 and follows the curvature of the flange portion II with a slight space inwardly thereof. The wall I 4 terminates some distance less than a half-circle. The walls I2 and I4 have a top I which terminates with an edge I6 extending between the free ends of the section I3 and wall I4.

The cover for the box is indicated at 20, and comprises a wall which takes a circular course along the inner side of the flange II between points overlapping the free edges of the section I3 and wall I4. The cover 20 is extended with a top 2 I of sector shape, such top overlapping the free portion of the top I5. The tops I5 and 2I combine to form the greater portion of a circle; and they are joined by a rivet 22 to permitthe rotation of the cover 20.

Fig. 1 shows the hat box closed. While this figure is primarily an elevational view to indicate that the wall I2 is employed as a' bottom to maintain the hat box in standing position, the figure may be considered as a plan view when the use of the hat box is involved. In such event, the rotation of the cover 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow serves to open the box. When the latter is set on a shelf or other horizontal surface or object, it is preferable that the box be turned some distance in a counterclockwise direction from the position in Fig. 1. Then, when the cover 20 is swung open, the entrance to the box faces forwardly, facilitating the removal or insertion of its contents.

Fig. 1 shows that a carrying handle 30 is provided for the box at a point opposite the flat wall l2. The handle is thus at the top when the box is in the standing position; and it is in the form of a strap of spring material. One end of the handle is formed with a foot 3I which isriveted at 32 to the cover 20, while the other end of the handle is formed with a back bend 33 extended with a T-stem 34 as shown in Fig. 5. The wall I4 is cut with a cross-slot 35 having a restricted portion 36. The tension of the handle 30 is such that the insertion of the T-stem 34 into the slot 35 causes the neck of the stem to lodge in the reduced portion 36 of the slot, locking the handle from withdrawal. The handle thus holds both sections of the box together and is usable for carrying the same from place to place. However, when the box is to be opened, it is laid on its bottom I 0 and the handle 30 sprung to release it from the slot 35. Now the handle can be used as a lever to draw the cover around to the open position.

It is now apparent that the novel hat box has several advantageous features. First, it eliminates the hinge and clasp forming part of the conventional circular hat box, since the top does not have to be opened relative to the bottom.

Further, the present box secures an opening of maximum width while the box is horizontally positioned on a shelf or other support, so that it is handy to insert or remove the contents thereof. Further, the box opens only on the side, which permits other boxes or objects to be stacked on it.

Further, the section l3 protects the bottom of the box from the entrance of water when the box is in the upstanding position, in case the box is set on wet ground; and the flange l l serves the same purpose in case the box is in the horizontal position under those conditions. Finally, th box is put together in a manner to hold its form securely.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hat box having a bottom marginal flange upstanding from the latter and extending in a circular course along the greater portion of its length, atop with a pendent part-circular wall slightly spaced along the inner side of a part of said portion and secured to said bottom, said top having a flat wall extending from one end of said part-circular wall, said, flange having a fiat. section for the remainder of its length adjoining the bottom portion of said flat wall, and a cover on said top, such cover having a part-circular wall depending to rest on said bottom along the inner side of the remaining part of said flange portion, said cover being rotatable to slide its wall around over the wall of said top and leave an opening in the side of the box.

. 2. A hat box having a bottom, a marginal flange upstanding from the latter andextendin inacircular cours along thegreater portion of its length, a top with a pendent part-circular wall slightly spaced along the inner side of a part of saidflange portion and secured to said bottom, said top having a'flat wall extending from one end of saidpart-circular wall and a part-circular continuation of said flat wall, saidflangehaving a fiat section for the remainder of its length adjoining the bottom portion of said flat wall, and a cover for said top, such cover having a partcircular wall depending to rest on said bottom along the inner side of the remaining part of said flange portion, the ends of the cover wall overlapping said continuation and the opposite end of V the top wall, and said cover being rotatable to slide its Wall around over the wall of said top and leave an opening in the side of the box.

3. A hat box having a bottom marginal flange upstanding from the latter and extending in a circular course along the greater portion of its length, a top with a pendent part-circular wall slightly spaced along the inner side of a part of said portion and secured to said bottom, said top having a flat wall extending from on end of said part-circular wall, said flange having a flat section for the. remainder of its length adjoining the bottom portion of said flat Wall, and a cover on said top, such cover having a part-circular wall depending to rest on said bottom along the inner side of the remaining part of said flange portion, said cover being rotatable to slide its wall around over the wall of said top and leave an opening in the side of the box, the ends of the flat flange section and adjoining wall portion forming end limits for the rotation of the cover wall.

GEORGE R. ROOS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 272,815 Gordon c Feb. 27, 1883 290,475 Rindsberg Dec. 18,1883 166,626 Sanders Jan. 5, 1892 638,860 Austin Dec. 12, 1899 688,034 Spengler Dec. 3, 1901 1,274,039 'Hinds July 30, 1918 1,485,995 Schafier Mar. 4, 1924 1,609,321 Sonn Dec. '7, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country. Date Great Britain 1890 

